Detroit at Miami

Pistons pound Heat in P.R., Shaq, Wade stay on bench most of game

CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

Oct. 10, 2006

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Nazr Mohammed had 16 points and eight rebounds
to lead the Detroit Pistons to an 84-64 victory
over Miami on Tuesday night as the Heat's
Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade watched most of the exhibition game
from the bench.

The two came out of the game with the defending NBA champions leading
13-12 in the first quarter, and the Pistons quickly took a lead they
never relinquished in the preseason opener for both teams.

Reserve guard Carlos Delfino added 15 points for Detroit.

Jason Kapono led the Heat with 12 points, while Dorrell Wright added 11.

The Pistons, who lost to the Heat in six games in last season's Eastern
Conference finals, took the court for the first time since losing Ben
Wallace, who signed in the offseason as a free agent with the Chicago
Bulls.

O'Neal and Wade returned to the lineup at the start of the second half,
with the Pistons leading 42-32. But Detroit opened the third quarter
with a 13-6 run, taking a 55-38 lead on a three-point play by Mohammed
after he was fouled by O'Neal.

Heat coach Pat Riley pulled O'Neal and Wade midway through the third
quarter, and they spent the rest of the game sitting together on the
bench.

O'Neal, who has complained about the feel of the new microfiber
composite basketballs that replaced the old leather models, had four
turnovers in 17 minutes. He finished with seven rebounds and four points.

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